Toggle clamp



Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN J. GOLLINET, or cnrcneo, rnnnvors, Assrenon T DRYING sYsrnMs, me, or CHICAGO, rumors, A CORPORATION or rumors TOGGLE CLAMP This invention relates to clamps of the type employed in stretching leather on a frame and drying the same.

The main objects of thisinvention are to provide an improved form of toggle clamp particularly 1 adapted for gripping and stretching leather and of; a construction that is both inexpensive and durable; to provide an improved form of toggle spring and spring mountingin. devices of this kind, whereby a comparatively light spring may be utilized for'eifectively urging the clamping jaws into engaged position while at the same time providing an extremely sensitive action that enables the clamps to be engaged and disengaged from the work with a minimum of effort on the part of theworkmeny and to provide a clamp of this kind wherein the spring can be readily replaced without 10 dismantling the device or otherwise disturbing the relation of theparts. I

A'specificembodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying'drawings in which: r

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a leather stretching toggle clamp'constructed according to this invention. i j

TFig. 2-is a longitudinal section taken on a medial vertical plane, and showing the parts in the positions which they occupy when the clamping jaws are engaged.

Fig. 3 is'a similar-section showing the relation' of the parts when the jaws are disengaged. I

Fig. 4. is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a small-scaledevelopment of the plate from whichthe body is formed.

In the form shown the clamp comprises a frame 1 having a fixed jaw 2 at its front end with a cam-shaped movable jaw 3 opposed thereto, said jaws being located at the front end of the frame. The rear end of the frame has a loop 5 which provides a finger hold whereby the operator may grip the clamp. A toggle spring 6 has its front end loosely seated in a clevis 7 which is pivotall connected by a pin 8 with the bifurcate rear end of the movable jaw 3. A see- 0nd clevis 9 which is of U=shape, has a seat 10 in which the rear end of the spring 6 is held and has its arms connected by a pivot pin'll with the frame.

The movable jaw 3 has a cam surface 12 opposed tothe jaw 2 and is pivoted at its front end by means of integral lugs 13. The.

cam surface12' isserrated or provided with teeth shaped toengage the leather or other sheet that is interposed between the jaws, and is so related to the pivotal connection -13 that the friction and pull of the work will tend to tighten the grip of the jaws.

The'jaw 3 is moved into and out of its engaged position by means of a lever 151 which is pivoted at 15. The lever 14 is preferably made of a piece of sheet metal bent as illus-l trat-ed with a pair of spaced arms 16 which are slotted to receive the ends ofthe pivot pin 8 and with ahandle 1-7 which lies along the finger hold 5 in position to be engaged by the thumb of the operator.

*The frame 1 is preferably made of a single piece of sheet metal cut to suitable form and bent'upon itself to provide the finger hold 5 and portions which form the top plate 18 and jaw 2vand a bottom plate 19. The portion which forms. the bottom plate 19 has.

wings or cheek pieces 20, which are folded up at the sides to complete a box-like body. The cheek pieces are provided with forwardly extending portions 21 which overliethe edges of the jaw 2 and elfectively brace the same. The cheek pieces 20 are also provided with perforations to-receive the pivotlugs 13 and the pins 11 and 15. These pins 11 and 15- are peened at their ends to form heads which lock the cheekpieces in place and an additional rivet 22 may be inserted between the leather and hooked into the supporting frame to stretch the leather.

The operator puts his forefinger through the loop 5 of the clamp and pushes the lever 14 upward with his thumb to open the jaws.

The toggle spring holds the jaw 3 in its disenand thus permits the use of a longand sensitive spring for controlling the action of the toggle with the same result'as if it were a toggle link extending direotly'between the pivot 11 and the pivot 8.

Since the two ends of the spring 6 are loose 1y seated in their respective clevises, it is quite a simple operation to insert or remove the spring 6 without disturbing any of the rest of the assembly. All that is necessary to insert the spring is to insert the front end of it into the clevis 7, springitto bowed form'and-drop therear end into the seat 10 in the clevis 9.

The spring locks itselfinto position and there is no possible danger of its becoming dislodged except when it is tobe intentionally removed.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein'shown and de scribed, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departingfrom the spirit of claims;

Ic1aim:- i V 1. A-toggle clamp comprising a frame having a fixed jaw, "a pivoted jaw on said frame coacting with said fixed jaw and having a cam-shaped gripping surface, a togglelink cooperating with said pivoted jaw and frame. andcomprising a leaf spring and clevises carrying the ends of saidspring-and pivotally mounted'respectively on said pivoted jaw and frame, and means for shifting said pivoted j aw-into and out of its engaged position. 2. A clamp comprising a frame having a fixed jaw, acam opposed to said jaw. and eccentric ally. pivoted on said frame, a clevis this invention as defined by the following 40 pivoted to said c am, a second clevispivoted to said frame rearward .of said cam, a leaf spring seated in said clevises and acting in toggle relation with said cam for holding the same in engaged and disengagedpo'sition, and means for shifting said cam. e

3. A .clamp comprising'a frame having a fixed jaw, a cam opposedto said jaw and eccentrically pivoted on said frame, a clevis pivoted to said cam, a second clevis pivoted to said frame rearward of said cam, a'leaf spring seated in said clevises and acting in toggle relation with said cam for holding the same in engaged and disengaged positions, a looped finger hold on said frame, and a lever extending adjacent to said finger hold and pivoted on said frame and cooperating with said cam for shifting said cam.

4. A clamp comprising a frame having a fixed jaw, a cam opposed to said jaw and eccentrically pivoted'on said frame, a clevis pivoted to said cam, a second clevis pivoted to said frame rearward of said cam, a leaf spring seated in said clevises and acting in toggle relation with said cam for holding the same in engaged and disengaged positions, a looped finger hold on said'frame, and a lever extending adjacent to said finger hold and pivoted on said frame on a centerseparate from the pivotal'connection of said lastnamed clevis and cooperating with said cam and having a handle'for shifting said cam.

5. A clamp comprising a frame having a fixed jaw, a movable jaw pivoted on said frame and having a cam surface coacting with said fixed jaw, a toggle spring pivotally connected at its front end to said movable jaw, a clevis providing a seat for the rear end of said toggle spring and pivoted to said frame at a point in front of said rear end, and a lever pivoted on said frame having an arm engaging the pivotal connection between said movable jaw and toggle spring'and having a handle for operating said movable jaw.

6. In a toggle clamp, a frame provided with a fixed jaw, a movable jaw pivoted to said frame, a toggle spring having one end thereof bearing on said movable jaw, and a clevis provi ding a shiftable seat for the other end of said spring, said clevis being pivotally sup ported on said frame'at'a point intermediate the ends of said spring.

7. Aclamp comprising a frame having a fixed jaw, a jaw movably mounted upon said frame for cooperation with said fixed aw, a handle connected to the frame and the movable jaw for shifting the movable jaw toward and away from the'fixed jaw, a toggle spring having one end attached to the movable jaw, and means shiftably mounted upon said frame engaging the opposite end of said spring.

Signed at Chicago this 21st day of December 1929.

JOHN J. COLLINET. 

